Did you have fun like this on Yarn Bomb Day?

10th June 2014

Generally speaking, knitting is not an art form that gets compared to graffiti very much. After all, there is no equivalent of Banksy who goes round in the shadows creating interesting new images with some colourful yarn instead of spray can.

However, it seems that there is one exception to this: yarn bombing. Every year on June 6th it is International Yarn Bombing Day - a chance for a group of knitters to create something that hangs up outside and provides a colourful public display.

One group who made the most of the occasion this year was the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Central Church in Summit, New Jersey. The group has been creating prayer shawls for people in times of personal and spiritual need since 2012 and their latest productions suddenly found themselves draped like sweaters around the lamp posts of the district.

This colourful display will have been among a large number of yarn bombings around the world. Of course, like real graffiti there may be occasions when someone wants it removing - which is, of course, much easier to do.

However, with June 6th having just passed us, why wait another 12 months to have a go at yarn bombing? They certainly aren't doing so in Australia. Over there, the town of Holbrook is attempting the world's biggest yarn bomb this week, ABC reports.

Anyone heading to the town hall there may be astounded to see it filled with knitted yellow items. The reason for the colour is that the coastal town has its own 90-metre long submarine, HMS Otway, which is about to be covered in them to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' Australian tour.

In fact, the event is not the only reason for the yarn bombing. The town is also marking the centenary of Australian submarines and the Holbrook Sheep and Wool Fair.